NWSL MATCH RECAP | Portland Thorns FC 2, Boston Breakers 0

PORTLAND, Ore. – Squaring off against the Boston Breakers for the second time in a nine-day span, Portland Thorns FC claimed a 2-0 win as midfielder Amandine Henry scored her first career NWSL goal in front of 18,637 fans at Providence Park on Saturday night.

With the win, Thorns FC (3-1-3, 12pts) are now unbeaten in eight consecutive regular-season home matches (7-0-1), tying a club record for longest home-unbeaten streak. In addition, Portland is unbeaten in its last five matches (2-0-3).

Opening the match on the front foot, Thorns FC scored two goals over the first five minutes to secure an early 2-0 lead. It marked the quickest consecutive goals for Portland to start a match in club history.

Surging down the left flank, Hayley Raso cut back towards the center of the box and fired a shot that was deflected out for a Thorns FC corner kick in the first minute of the match. On the ensuing corner kick, Nadia Nadim delivered a driven ball from the left corner flag to Henry at the back post. Henry directed a powerful header back across the front of goal that took a deflection off Boston defender Julie King and into the back of the net for an own goal to give Thorns FC a 1-0 lead.

Continuing on the attack, Henry doubled Portland’s lead in the fifth minute, intercepting a pass at midfield, Henry dribbled down field and fired a well-placed shot from distance into the bottom, right corner of the goal.

Defensively, Thorns FC limited the Breakers to five shots in the match, and just one shot on target, keeping their fourth clean sheet of the campaign. Portland has now recorded a shutout in three of their four home matches this season, conceding just two goals, and are tied for the league lead in both shutouts (4) and fewest-goals conceded (5).

Outshooting Boston 10-2 in the opening half, Portland created several additional scoring chances, including two quality opportunities by Christine Sinclair, who finished the match with a game-high six shots. On the counter-attack, Emily Sonnett served a long ball over the top for Sinclair making a run between two defenders. Sinclair collected the pass in stride and dribbled into the box, sending a low, hard shot just wide of the left post.

Sinclair nearly added a third goal in the 32nd minute, getting on the end of a Nadim cross with a diving header at point-blank range, but Boston goalkeeper Abby Smith made the stop at the near post. Less than five minutes later, Henry skimmed the top of the crossbar with a dipping shot from distance in the 36th minute.

Finishing the match with a 17-5 advantage in shots, Portland pushed for additional goals in the second half. Leading the break, Sinclair split a pair of Boston defenders dribbling into the box, delivering a close-range attempt on frame, but Smith came quickly off her line to make the save in the 58th minute. Additionally, Nadim rifled a long-range attempt just wide of the right post in the 60th minute and Allie Long found space in front of goal after a shot from Sinclair was deflected, sending a scooped shot just over the crossbar.

Up next, Thorns FC travel for a road match against Sky Blue FC on Saturday, June 3, at Yurcak Field. The June 3 match kicks off at 4 p.m. (Pacific) with a live, high-definition web stream at www.NWSLSoccer.com and www.go90.com.

Notes:

Midfielder Amandine Henry tallied her first career NWSL and Thorns FC goal in the match.

Henry is the 25th different player across all competitions to score a goal for Portland.

Portland is unbeaten in its last eight regular-season home matches (7-0-1), tying a club record for the longest home unbeaten streak.

Thorns FC are unbeaten in their last five matches (2-0-3).

Portland is tied for the league lead in shutouts (4) and fewest goals conceded (5). Thorns FC have conceded just two goals in four home games this season.

Registering goals in the first and fifth minutes of the match, Portland tied the club record for fastest consecutive goals set on June 21, 2014, in a 6-1 win on the road against the Washington Spirit.

In six matches between Thorns FC and the Breakers at Providence Park, Portland has outscored Boston 22-9, improving to 5-1-0 in those matches.

The match marked the quickest amount of times Portland has scored two goals to start a match (5 minutes), breaking the previous record of two goals in the opening 10 minutes against Washington on June 21.

With a crowd of 18,637, Portland surpassed 18,000 fans for a match for the eighth time in club history, marking the seventh largest attendance for a regular-season contest since the club’s inaugural NWSL season in 2013.

Forward Christine Sinclair appeared in her 70th career match for Portland on Saturday night.

Midfielder Allie Long made her 85th career appearance in the match.

Thorns FC are tied for the league lead in shutouts (4) and fewest-goals conceded (5).

Forward Hayley Raso won eight fouls in the match, establishing a single-season club record for most fouls won in a match.

Portland is 3-0-3 when squaring off against the same team in back-to-back weeks.